Officers Email List: ^Officers

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HISTORY

2002/3 President: Tosin Akinluyi Tosin Akinluyi and Eric Tienou founded Africana in 2002. In its first year the membership focused on promoting the club and its mission. Membership was open to the entire student body - particularly those interested in Africa's people, culture, travel, history, food and art. Africana was also meant to be a vehicle for increasing the prominence of information about African investment, economies and development at Columbia Business School.

2003/4 President: Hiwot Nega

2004/5 President: Yonas Maru

2005/6 President: Asmau Ahmed In 2005 Africana continued to develop a sense of community among our members by organizing alumni-student mixers, developing an alumni database and arranging general student outings. We also promoted Africana at the business school through our involvement in various culturally focused events including 'It's A Small World'. Africana engaged the admissions committee to make a case for increasing the number of African students at CBS and worked with faculty to incorporate more representative African cases in the core curriculum. Key events we co-sponsored included the Aids Panel in December 2005 and the African Economic Forum.

2006/7 Co-Presidents: Akua Opoku-acquah & Obianuju Nwoga 2006/2007 was about making a difference whilst having fun. We boosted the club membership, sponsored the African Economic Forum and hosted the Deans from African Business Schools. Our club meetings featured foods from different regions in Africa and at our parties we played music from all over the continent. Africana brought Africa to Columbia Business School!

2007/8 President: Chiza Vitta In 2007 we decided to shift the club away from a social focus and more towards a professional one in order to engage the business opportunities that were becoming available in Africa. We also wanted to be more inclusive as an organization. As such, we changed Africana's full name from "African Students' Association" to "African Business Club ". Along with this change we rebranded and revamped the Africana website.

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MISSION

Africana is a student group dedicated to the advancement of issues related to Africa as well as the promotion of an understanding of Africa at Columbia Business School. To this end, Africana strives to accomplish the following goals:

1. Ensure the success of Africana’s members at CBS by providing various types of support including career resources, tutoring and help adjusting to the New York social and cultural environment.
2. Increase networking opportunities for members with the corporate community of Africa and serve as a support system throughout the recruiting process for students interested in building careers in or related to Africa.
3. Provide opportunities for business school students to explore the many facets that comprise the African culture through social cultural events.
4. Support the Admissions Office in recruiting African Students; and work with prospective students during the admissions process.
5. Promote the development and involvement in Africa with activities that enhance the understanding of the region.
6. Africana also seeks to bolster the bond between current students and CBS alumni who share an interest in Africa. Club members will have the opportunity for meaningful interaction and relationship-building with alumni at various special events during the year, as well as through other channels.